Rio Rapids Durango Soccer Club Newsletter
brings you up-to-date information on the club!
RRDSC Newsletter

Issue 31

Fall 2023

Dear RRDSC Members,


We are so happy to have practices started and the ball rolling! There are many things to look forward to this fall. Our relationship with Fort Lewis Soccer continues to grow partnering with them to provide the Mini Kickers Soccer School. We also have two Rio Rapids Soccer Days at FLC home games where our players get in free when they come in their RRDSC gear.


Keep an eye out for details on Colorado Mountain Select (CMS) visiting us on October 9th. We are grateful for the opportunity for our players to train with them in our own town. There are many avenues for our players to get extra training. Reach out to your coach and the Directors of Coaching for information on how to get involved with both Colorado Mountain Select and New Mexico YOP and ODP.


Have a great fall season!


Rio Rapids Durango SC

Mark Your Calendars!

Rio Rapids Durango Soccer Club Day at Fort Lewis College Alumni Games

Saturday, August 26th, 2023. Women kickoff at 1:00pm and Men at 3:00pm


Coach Education with Ray Nause (Rio Rapids SC Director of Coaching Education & Development)

Tuesday, August 29th, 2023, 6-7:30pm at Riverview Elementary School


*NO TEAM PRACTICES DURING THIS TIME*


Parent Information Session with Ray Nause (Rio Rapids SC Director of Coaching Education & Development)

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023, 6:30-7:30pm at The Wells Group


Rio Rapids SC - Player Identification Opportunity

Sunday, September 17th, 12-1:30pm at Vista Del Norte Park (ABQ)


Colorado Mountain Select Clinic

Monday, October 9th, 2-4pm at Smith Complex


Rio Rapids Durango SC Day at Fort Lewis College

October 12th, Women at 5pm vs Colorado Mesa University and Men at 7pm vs University of Colorado at Colorado Springs


Kick it 3v3 Tournament

November 4th at Riverview Elementary School



SOCCER GEAR DRIVE FOR TANZANIA


In March of 2022 the Rio Rapids Durango U11G Thunder did a soccer ball and pump drive to send with Bethany Bernal of CommonSpirit-Mercy Hospital on her mission trip to Tanzania. On this trip Bernal was working on the Helping Babies Breathe and Helping Mothers Survive initiatives. This September Brandon Mencini (CEO Mercy Hospital & parent of RRDSC players), Dr. Jennifer Heinicke (RRDSC Board Member), Linda Young (Director of Inpatient Services at Mercy Hospital), and Dr. Val McKinnis (children played & husband coached for RRDSC) are headed to Tanzania to expand the scope and help the hospital with other needs. RRDSC has a great opportunity to send even more soccer gear this trip to brighten the lives of the children of Tanzania!


WHAT TO DONATE: Soccer balls, air pumps, jerseys, shorts.

WHERE TO DONATE: Starting Friday, August 25th a donation box will be outside the RRDSC office (862 Main Ave #203). We can also collect among teams and then get donations to RRDSC Executive Director Kate Kelly

DONATION DEADLINE: Friday, September, 8th


THE MISSION

Seven Years ago, Mercy Hospital teamed up with Dareda Catholic Hospital nestled in a small village located in Tanzania. Global Health Initiatives funds the project and initiated Helping Babies Breathe and Helping Mothers Survive curriculum which provides training for rural health workers and nursing students with skills in couplet care, prevention, detection, and management of the leading causes of maternal and fetal deaths including resuscitation, bleeding after birth and pre-eclampsia & eclampsia.


Read More


Parent Information Session with Ray Nause (Rio Rapids SC Director of Coaching Education & Development)

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023, 6:30-7:30pm at The Wells Group


Why does Rio Rapids SC partner with selected Clubs?


  • Partner with clubs who share a like minded way of thinking, player development philosophy and education in the sport. Quality of work!
  • We provide Rio Rapids Durango SC current best practices in player development based on Colorado Rapids MLS Next/Rio Rapids:
  • Players- correct environment, correct information, clear opportunity pathway.
  • Coaches- environment, coach education, curriculum.
  • Club- structural support, business/administrative support, staff/parent education.


*Come meet Ray Nause and learn more about our partnership with Rio Rapids Soccer Club*

Fall 2023 Goalkeeper Training


U9-U10

Monday

Dates: Sept 4, 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23

Time: 7:15-8pm

Location: Smith Sports Complex

Coach: Zac Keeler


U11-U12

Thursday

Dates: Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26

Time: 6:30-7:30pm

Location: Smith Sports Complex

Coach: Katie Dunbabin


U13-U19

Tuesday

Dates: Sept 5, 12, 19, 26, Oct 3, 10, 17, 24

Time: 6:15-7:15pm

Location: Smith Sports Complex

Coach: Hayley Hollenga


Questions? Contact Kate Kelly, Executive Director, ‭

(970) 946-7719, katedurangosoccer@gmail.com

Rio Rapids SC - Rio Rapids Durango SC Player Identification Opportunity

As a part of our partnership with Rio Rapids Soccer Club in Albuquerque, high performing players within the Club have the opportunity to participate in a Player Identification Opportunity in Albuquerque. This identification opportunity is one avenue in which you can showcase your skills and abilities to the staff at Rio Rapids SC. Interested players/families who participate in this event, may be offered additional training or playing opportunities with Rio Rapids SC teams. These would be in addition to your Rio Rapids Durango SC programming and could include:

  • Additional training opportunities
  • Guest Playing (tournaments) & Club Pass (Duke City Soccer League) 
  • Part-time and full-time opportunities with Boys ECNL teams
  • Part-time and full-time opportunities with Girls Academy League teams

These opportunities will vary in their availability depending on your level as a player and the needs of Rio Rapids SC teams in your age group. They could occur at any time during the seasonal year.

COLORADO SELECT OVERVIEW


An expanded version of the Olympic Development Program, Colorado Select offers development and next-level identification opportunities to elite players and those who want to become elite.  Colorado Select is available to all players and will offer a year-round supplemental training and development program to selected pool players in addition to international and domestic showcase opportunities for identification at the college, professional and youth national team level.




Learn More

REFEREE CERTIFICATION COURSE

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023, 10AM-1PM AT RIVERVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL



There is a shortage of referees across the nation!! Please help us build our local pool by getting certified. If interested please contact Kevin Aten, our Director of Referees, at katen@frii.com

RRDSC Player Exit Standards
In the Fall of 2014 RRDSC began using age specific Player Standards to better break down the process of player development. Player Standards are a great way to encourage players to work on their game and letting the player know what they need to learn to go to the next level. It is also meant to get the kids to understand what they have to do when they come to practice AND what they need to keep doing away from practice on their own. Youth soccer is entirely about the development of the whole player, therefore, it is the aim of RRDSC to foster player growth through age appropriate standards while gaining comprehensive tactical and technical skills required to play in all positions and facets of the game.

Please take moment to review the Player Exit Standards

New Mexico ODP


  • Objectives of the New Mexico ODP/YOP ProgramTo provide additional opportunities for top players in the state to train at an elite level, with other elite players and elite level coaches.
  • To provide elite players in New Mexico the opportunity to represent New Mexico in Regional Competition (ODP).
  • To provide the opportunity for players to be scouted by Regional staff and be selected to Regional Camp/Teams (ODP).
  • To provide additional opportunities to be seen by college coaches.


Click HERE for more info!

RRDSC is expanding coaching opportunities, hiring across all levels of the Club!

Contact Kate Kelly at katedurangosoccer@gmail.com or 970-946-7719 for more information.

Kick it 3v3 Tournament

Date: November 4th, 2023 at Riverview Elementary School



Tournament Information



Wishing you a safe and fun season!


CLUB OF DURANGO

Serving Children: Our #1 Priority

1955 - 2023


PANCAKE DAY


And Silent Auction

All You Can Eat!



Pancakes * Ham * Scrambled Eggs * Maple & Honeyville Fruit Syrups * Coffee * Juice * Milk * Green Chile * Salsa * Blueberries


Gluten Free on Request


SATURAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2023

La Plata County Fairgrounds * Main Exhibit Hall

8:00am to 7:00pm

$12 each * $15 each at the door * Children under 12 Free

Get your pancake tickets from your friendly Kiwanian, at the door our online

TICKETS

Be a Thermostat, not a Thermometer: Sample Chapter from our New Book “The Champion Teammate”

BY JOHN O'SULLIVAN /  TUESDAY, 02 MAY 2023 /  PUBLISHED IN COACHINGLEADERSHIPTEAM CULTURE


The great FC Barcelona teams from 2008–2016 were some of the greatest teams of all time, in any sport. They won multiple league, cup and Champions League titles, including all six competitions they entered in 2009 (Copa Del Rey, La Liga, Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup). They played extraordinary soccer, and the team was filled with superstars such as Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Neymar, and others. The captain of those teams was Carles Puyol.


Puyol was a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia Academy and had grown up with many of the team’s star players. He was not a flashy headliner like the others. He was a gritty defender. He did the dirty work, covered for others, made huge defensive plays, and led through his work ethic and inspirational attitude. He was the glue that held the egos in check, and though his top traits rarely made the stats sheet, without him Barcelona would have never achieved great heights.


Puyol was a leader, a warrior, and humble at the same time. He captained teams with stars such as Messi, Neymar, and Ronaldinho, and more-famous teammates often called him the best professional they had ever been around. If you google “Carles Puyol leadership,” you will find highlight videos of Puyol asking teammates to stop over-the-top celebrations that humiliated an opponent, or to quit complaining about or playacting for a foul. In one instance, he gets slapped by an opposing player, and then intervenes and pushes his own teammates away before a shoving match can start, taking the temperature down and keeping their focus on the game. Puyol is the ultimate thermostat, when many others are simply thermometers.


Read More

RRDSC CLEAT EXCHANGE

*Leave a pair or take a pair*


Our cleat exchange was a big hit last season! However, our inventory is now depleted! If you have a pair of cleats your player no longer fits in please drop them off at the RRDSC office (862 Main Ave #203).

 * Advanced Concrete Solutions * Bank of Colorado * Budget Blinds of the Southwest * Durango Motor Company * FCI Constructors, Inc. * Fredrick, Zink & Associates, PC * Max Hutcheson, The Durango Team, Wells Group of Durango * Leavitt Insurance Group of Durango * Morehart Murphy Regional Auto Center * Peak Energy Resources * Pediatric Partners of the Southwest * Scapegoat Landscaping * The Payroll Department * The Durango Team at Wells Group * The Wells Group *

 Thank you RRDSC parents & volunteers! 
We appreciate you!

Donate to RRDSC Scholarship Fund

Rio Rapids Durango SC | Phone (970) 247-1177 | Fax (970) 247-1177| durangosoccer@gmail.com| www.durangosoccer.com

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